There are many ways to rip your CDs and store music on a network, but nothing matches the simplicity of the Bluesound Vault 2. This 2TB NAS drive acts as a media server for your tunes, but also connects directly to your hi-fi system, like any other component. It rips CDs bit-perfect from its own slot drive to FLAC or MP3, and will download High-Res Audio tracks from commercial sites.

The BluOS app also lets you stream music from Tidal, Spotify, TuneIn, Deezer and Qobuz. It’ll even wirelessly stream to any connected Bluesound speakers on your network, so you can listen to your collection around the house.

2. Onkyo A-9010 stereo amplifier

Still offering unfeasibly good value for money, Onkyo’s A-9010 is a class-leading stereo amp to partner the Vault 2. It’s rated at 44W per channel, features four analogue line inputs, a dedicated phono MM stage, and 192 kHz/24-bit-capable coaxial and 96 kHz/24-bit optical inputs. Attention to detail (we’re loving the large transformer and audio-grade capacitors) is high.

3. Audio Technica AT-LP5

So we’ve got CD ripping covered, but what about vinyl? Enter the luscious AT-LP5. First, this direct-drive turntable is a cracking vinyl player. Fitted with an AT95EX Dual Moving Magnet cartridge, mounted on a retro-style J-shaped tonearm, it’s a perfect complement to our Onkyo amp. However, a USB output also enables you to capture pristine needle drops in 16-bit 44.1kHz WAV, using the supplied Audacity software. Once archived, all you need to do is copy the files over to the Vault 2.

4. Apple iPad 5th generation

The latest iteration of Apple’s evergreen tablet is as good a portable interface for your digital music system as you’ll find. Just load up the BluOS app and browse your Bluesound Vault at leisure (although you could use an Android tablet, or even Mac or PC, instead). Album art looks ace on the sharp 9.7-inch display, and it’s plenty fast enough for browsing tracks.

5. Monitor Audio Silver 100

Complete your sound system with these step-up standmounters from Monitor Audio. Part of a radically revamped 6th-generation Silver line, they feature a number of component improvements (better magnets, improved voice coil) and tweaked cabinet design. The Silver 100 is a ported box, combing a 25mm Gold Dome tweeter with a rigid 8-inch C-Cam mid/bass driver, made from a single piece of ceramic-coated aluminium/magnesium alloy. Given how pretty these look, it’s handy the grille fixings are magnetic.

]]>Amazon Echo sale alert: massive discounts on the Show, Plus and morehttp://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-echo-sale-alert-massive-discounts-on-the-show-plus-and-more
http://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-echo-sale-alert-massive-discounts-on-the-show-plus-and-moreBlack Friday was just the beginning as Amazon continues to discount its devices. Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:57:29 +0000techradar.comAre you gutted about missing out on Amazon's Black Friday discounts? Well, as it turns out, the retail giant is at it again with a number of discounts on its range of Echo devices, Kindles, and Fire tablets.

The biggest discount is reserved for the recently-released Amazon Echo Show, which is discounted by £70 down to £130. If the thought of a voice-powered speaker intrigues you, but you just can't get behind a device without a screen, then the Show is certainly worth a look at this price.

]]>Got 99 problems and cash is one? Tidal may only have enough for 6 more monthshttp://www.techradar.com/news/got-99-problems-and-cash-is-one-tidal-may-only-have-enough-for-6-more-months
http://www.techradar.com/news/got-99-problems-and-cash-is-one-tidal-may-only-have-enough-for-6-more-monthsDespite the backing of Jay-Z, the streaming service reportedly has enough cash to last 6 months more.Wed, 13 Dec 2017 09:52:25 +0000techradar.comTidal has just enough cash to last the next six months according to a report in the Norwegian publication Dagens Næringsliv. According to the report the company lost the Norwegian equivalent of $44 million in 2016.

Engadget notes that Tidal is facing these financial difficulties despite a massive injection of funds from US telco Sprint buying one third of the business in January 2016.

Despite styling itself as the audiophile-focused alternative to Spotify with support for lossless, and now hi-res streaming thanks to its MQA partnership, Tidal has failed to generate as much user interest. Spotify hit the 60 million user mark in 2016, while Tidal had just 1 million as of the end of 2015 (and even that number is disputed).

A shrinking USP

Tidal's unique selling point has always been that it offers higher music quality than market-leader Spotify with file sizes that are at least CD-quality lossless, with some even available as MQA hi-res audio files.

Spotify, meanwhile, tops out at 320 kbps.

However, it seems the promise of better audio quality hasn't been enough to win over listeners, especially when Tidal's HiFi tier costs $19.99 compared to $9.99 for Spotify.

]]>Behind the magic: an inside look at Skywalker Soundhttp://www.techradar.com/news/audio/behind-the-magic-an-inside-look-at-skywalker-sound-1285485
http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/behind-the-magic-an-inside-look-at-skywalker-sound-1285485What do Star Wars, The Dark Knight and Uncharted have in common? This building.Mon, 11 Dec 2017 21:45:00 +0000techradar.comThis behind-the-scenes look at Skywalker Sound is part of our official Star Wars Week coverage. Join us as we tour the famous sound studio that brought hundreds of your favorite film, TV and video game scores to life!

Skywalker Sound. Maybe you haven't heard the name before, but you've definitely heard it. Or at least its product, anyway.

In the last decade Skywalker has mixed and made sound for hundreds of projects, everything from Pixar's adorable animations to blockbuster action films like The Dark Knight.

It's pretty good at it, too. Skywalker has won 18 Academy Awards and a handful of Golden Reels - the audio industry's award for sound engineering - in a little over 25 years of operation.

The 40-or-so team members at Skywalker Sound work on a not-so-modest ranch in Nicasio, California - about 45 minutes north of San Francisco. The ranch, appropriately, is called Skywalker Ranch and is owned by none other than George Lucas.

Getting to the ranch is a bit of a trek, and security is tight - guards greet you on your way in and out of the complex. But once you're past the collapsible iron bridge you'll find anything you could ever need, sound mixing or otherwise.

Wandering around the property I saw cattle, a stable equipped for horseback riding, rows upon rows of crops and a vineyard. Inside the Tech Building was a red-brick labyrinth of million-dollar recording studios, original 1940s movie posters and a mostly organic buffet.

I was there to watch video game icon Tommy Tallarico and electronic dance music star BT work on their album Electronic Opus.

In the past, we've shown what great audio looks like, but not the process of how it's made. This feature will change that.

Entrance to the Tech Building or driveway to Bruce Wayne's Manor? You decide.

Skywalker Ranch is located in scenic Marin County, a short 45 minute drive away from both the city of San Francisco and Sonoma, California's wine epicenter.

The wood blocks you see in the back have random inlaid patterns that dampen sound.

Grand pianos: a staple of every recording studio.

Even though the name carries a lot of clout in the industry, one of the engineers told me renting space at Skywalker isn't more expensive than a similar space in say, LA or New York.

Behind the recording stage is a booth equipped with a mixing board.

"How much does it cost?" I asked of the board's price.

"It's a few years old now, but brand-new it cost $800,000. But that's before installation," one of the sound engineers at the Ranch told me.

"After everything is said and done it costs around $1 million."

There are 16 of these sound boards located in the main building of Skywalker Sound, with another handful located in other buildings on the property. Primarily, the main house is reserved for big name game developers like Naughty Dog, the team behind the Uncharted series, or movie production studios like Pixar and Paramount.

While I was there sound editing for Inside Out was happening a few rooms away while in another studio artists were plowing through old Star Wars recordings to pick out R2-D2 samples.

On any given day you might see or, more explicitly, hear a dozen of the biggest films of the year being recorded at Skywalker Sound. Here's a list of all the films the firm has ever worked on in-house.

This is the sound board up close. The tape helps sound artists keep track of which instruments are assigned to which channels.

Before mixing down, Tallarico and BT had about 200 channels of raw audio to listen through.

Like-sounding instruments were then grouped together and mixed into the single category seen on these tapes. Levels can then be individually altered to create less or more of one set of instruments.

Although most aspects of the film industry have transitioned entirely into a digital medium, audio engineers at Skywalker still use analog equipment on some projects.

According to the Skywalker Sound website, it has provided sound services for more than half of the top twenty-five highest grossing films of all time.

This article was first published in February 2015

]]>The best cheap Beats by Dre headphone deals for Christmas 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/cheap-beats-by-dre-deals-1302753
http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/cheap-beats-by-dre-deals-1302753We've checked the prices on every model of Beats, including iPhone 8 compatible ones, so you can find the best prices.Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:29:23 +0000techradar.comThe best Beats deals are right here, and that's good news because Beats by Dre is arguably the most successful brand of headphones on the planet. After all, Apple spent $3 billion to purchase the company back in the summer of 2014.

So where do you go if you're looking for cheap Beats by Dre deals? Why this page of course! As you'll see we've got all of the current Beats models here and our system searches thousands of retail sites every single day to make sure you can find the cheapest Beats deals. We've rounded them up from top to bottom, and we've included Beats' own taglines for each product to both inform and amuse you.

If you've recently grabbed an iPhone 8 or iPhone X deal, this is the perfect place to find a pair of excellent wireless headphones given Apple's controversial decision to remove the standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the phones since the iPhone 7. We've reordered the Beats headphone deals on this page to put all the wireless options at the top for your convenience.

You can find links to the latest Studio 3 Wireless, Solo 3 Wireless, Powerbeats3 Wireless and Beats X deals below along with a selection of the best Beats deals for the older headphones too.

Beats Studio3 Wireless deals

"Hear the music. Not the noise"

The newest entry in the beats by Dre headphone range is the Beats Studio 3 Wireless. The Studio3 is the best noise cancelling set of headphones Beats has ever made. The battery has massivly improved too, as you can enjoy music for up to 22 hours, or even 40 with the active noise cancelling tech turned off.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are great match for iPhone users, especially the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7, but you can pair them with any smartphone thanks to the bluetooth technology. The Studio 3 is available in six colors including: red, matt black, white, porcelain rose, blue and shadow grey.

Beats by Dre Solo 3 Wireless deals

"Wireless the way it should be"

If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 8, and want one of the best pair of headphones in the business made especially for Apple's new phone, you really should take a look at the Beats by Dre Solo 3 Wireless range. Below you'll find links to the latest prices, although at launch you can pretty much expect to see Apple hog most of the stock. US readers, most sites don't have active pre-orders yet, but you'll see them below when they go live.

Beats X by Dre deals

"The perfect wireless companion"

Long after their reveal alongside the iPhone 7, these eagerly awaited Bets inner-ear headphones were finally released in February 2017. These wireless headphones are a perfect match for new iPhone 7 owners already missing the 3.5mm port. We're particularly impressed by the quick charge feature that gives you two hours of playback from a single five minute charge. Eight hours from a full charge isn't too shabby either. Apple has released stock in black, white, grey and blue and we'll add them to our comparison chart below as they become available in different territories.

Beats by Dre Powerbeats3 Wireless deals

"Power meets endurance"

Leading an active lifestyle that requires the lightweight feel of in-ear headphones without the massive cans on your head? Then the Beats by Dre range has you covered for that too, because they're not all about that authentic studio design. With an improved 12-hour battery life, you're all set for multiple workouts packed with hours of adrenaline pumping tunes.

Beats by Dre Studio Wireless deals

"Feel The Music, Not The Wires"

Again not cheap, but they are at least compatible with the new iPhone 7. The Beats by Dre Studio Wireless over-ears have all the same features as the Beats Studio model above but also come with Bluetooth. That means they can stream music wirelessly from your phone, tablet or laptop. The built-in microphone will also allow you to answer your phone without having to take them off.

Beats by Dre Solo2 Wireless deals

"DESIGNED FOR SOUND. TUNED FOR EMOTION. NOW WIRELESS"

You can make a massive saving on these cans thanks to the newer Solo 3 models. These are compatible with the iPhone 7 too. The tagline for these Beats headphones comes all in caps so it must be true. If you're looking for deals on the Beats Solo2 but maybe you're thinking about the Studio Wireless, this could be the pair for you. They are as you would imagine they are - the same as the Solo2 but with added battery-powered Bluetooth skills to make them wireless.

Beats by Dre Powerbeats2 Wireless deals

"Performance. Power. Freedom"

Chuckle - we see what you did there, Doctor. If you hadn't guessed, the Powerbeats2 Wireless are the same earphones as the Powerbeats2 regular, but with Bluetooth and yes, the Powerbeats2 Wireless will work with the iPhone 7. They connect through a cable behind your head so you can't lose them, but other than that they're cable-free. We particularly like this description of the Powerbeats2 Wireless from the official website: "Powerbeats Wireless was designed to defy the ordinary while catapulting athletes towards unparalleled performance". How can you NOT buy them after reading that?

Beats by Dre Pro deals

"The Headphones Used To Mix In Every Major Studio"

Ok, onto the wired options now. We'll start with the most expensive Beats products and work our way down so if you're looking at these prices and thinking "cripes" - just scroll down. That tag line above is what Beats' own website says about the product - we're pretty sure that Dr. Dre hasn't been to every major studio in the world to check. But whatever, these are the over-ear cans that Beats says are its best.

Beats by Dre Studio 2.0 deals

"A Headphone Icon, Remastered"

With active noise cancelling, the Beats Studio 2.0 over-ear headphones aim to cut out outside noise so that the sound from its drivers are not distorted (ANC is great at electronically removing white noise on planes and trains but don't expect too much else). These are the top 'consumer' models, so if you're looking for cheap Beats by Dre they're probably not for you. If you want the high end ones, these are for you.

Beats by Dre Solo2 deals

"Designed For Sound. Tuned For Emotion"

The taglines only get stupider, people. The Solo 2 is probably the most popular Beats by Dre product, offering a balance of performance and portability. The cups are on-ear rather than over-ear which could affect comfort and will definitely affect isolation from outside sounds. But look at the price, it's quite a bit cheaper than other Beats by Dre headphones.

Beats by Dre Mixr deals

"Lightweight And Powerful. Built For DJs"

As you can see, Dr. Dre wants all DJs to be using these headphones. The earcups rotate so you can do your skillful mixing uninhibited, or indeed so you can pretend to do skillful mixing in the knowledge that you're actually playing a CD unbeknownst to the drunk people bobbing in front of you. The bass in these cans is supposed to be particularly 'big' and you can share what you're listening to with dual-port daisy chaining.

Beats EP deals

"An ideal introduction to Beats for any music lover"

The Beats EP headphones are the cheapest on-ear headphones in the Beats by Dre lineup and are a fine place to start if you've had your eye on the colourful stylings for a while. They're wired via a 3.5mm jack, but at least you'll never have to worry about them running out of battery juice.

Beats by Dre Urbeats deals

"UPGRADE YOUR SOUND"

The tagline for these is particularly uninspiring and it's all in caps again which reminds us of that classic saying: if you've got nothing to say, so it loudly. Err, anyway - these are the first in-ear headphones/earphones on the page. If you want cheap Beats by Dre, this is as good as it gets really. It's a standard pair of earphones which come with tangle-free flat cables as well as a clicker and built-in microphone for taking calls.

Beats by Dre Powerbeats2 deals

"Performance. Power. Strength"

The tagline for the Powerbeats2 is better while still saying absolutely nothing about the product itself. These earphones are made for using while exercising. They're designed to not fall out of your ears and they're sweat and water resistant. Meanwhile, RemoteTalk controls allow you to easily take calls or change your music without having to fiddle.

]]>Music recognition and AR? Apple is reportedly buying Shazamhttp://www.techradar.com/news/music-recognition-and-ar-apple-is-reportedly-buying-shazam
http://www.techradar.com/news/music-recognition-and-ar-apple-is-reportedly-buying-shazamApple is reportedly buying the popular recognition app in a move that makes sense for more than just music.Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:19:48 +0000techradar.comHere's a pairing we didn't quite see coming: Apple is close to buying Shazam, the music recognition app, according to a new report. The deal could be announced as early as Monday.

Apple and Shazam, which also identifies everything from TV shows and movies to ads, are signing paperwork this week and plan an announcement early next, sources tell TechCrunch. Plans to announce the acquisition could change, however.

Apple is known for buying up other companies, though Shazam is certainly no small startup. It gained popularity for its ability to recognize music and more through a snippet of sound, and can also identify items such as books and magazines through visual cues picked up through a device's camera. Shazam has even ventured into augmented reality for brands.

Shazam says over 100 million people use its app every month. While it's reportedly valued at over $1 billion, TechCrunch sources say Apple is buying it for much less. One source puts the price at around £300 million, which is about $401 million.

Hey, what's that sound

The move would make sense for Apple on a few fronts.

The most obvious is bringing Shazam's music recognition capabilities to Apple Music, perhaps helping users more easily find music.

Shazam also has a feature that lets users see what popular artists are Shazaming, and this could conceivably make its way to Apple Music, giving users another way to connect with artists and discover new music.

Yet another area where Apple could stand to benefit is from Shazam's work in augmented reality. Apple has made a big push into AR recently with the launch of the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iOS 11.

Shazam's ability to scan real-world objects and generate branded AR content looks to fit right in with where Apple wants to go. When you consider Amazon recently brought AR shopping to its iOS app, it seems only natural Apple will want to do something similar on its own.

Whether or not the Shazam deal goes through, Apple has historically shown its commitment to bettering its music services through big acquisitions. The company paid $3 billion for Beats in 2014, after all.

We'll keep our ear to the ground for any developments, including an official announcement from Apple and Shazam.

]]>The best Boxing Day sales 2017: where to find the best deals in the UKhttp://www.techradar.com/news/best-boxing-day-sales
http://www.techradar.com/news/best-boxing-day-salesWe're listing all of the best Boxing Day sales deals right here on TechRadarFri, 08 Dec 2017 16:37:00 +0000techradar.comThe Boxing Day sales are a great opportunity to grab a bargain deal before the year's out. This might be for something you've been waiting for a stunning price on for months, or maybe something you'd been keeping your fingers crossed you'd be getting for Christmas.

And hey, just because you didn't find the right price on Black Friday, doesn't mean you won't have better luck this time. As for the 'January sales', we're seeing fewer ace deals in those each year nowadays as retailers focus on November and December for their best deals. So, if you see a bargain that looks right for you, it might be time to treat yourself while you still have a chance.

When do the Boxing Day sales start?

Not a silly question at all. We actually see loads of retailers push the button (probably with gravy on their fingers) at some point on Christmas Day. We'll be watching all of the usual suspects like a hawk throughout the Christmas break and will bring you the deals when they go live, even if they go live sooner than expected.

We're expecting retailers to really get going with the deals by early evening on Christmas Day. So you might want to delay that post-dinner snooze until you've taken a peek. We're even hearing whispers that some super eager online stores will even unleash a few deals on Christmas Eve. We'll let you know as soon as they do. Not that we're trying to put Santa out of a job.

Who's having a Boxing Day sale?

If last year was anything to go by, all the big stores will be getting stuck in. With so many keen shoppers going online over the Christmas period in recent years, it's just too good a chance for them to finish 2017 off with some extra money in the bank. Let's take a look at the big hitters below and at what to expect.

What Boxing Day deals were there last year?

If you want an idea of what potential discounts might be waiting just around the corner we can always take a look at some of the more popular offers we saw last Boxing Day. So let's hop into the Deals Time Machine and see...

iPhone 7 | Vodafone | 5GB data | Unlimited calls/texts | £34 per month (+half price for 6 months)
This was the strongest iPhone 7 deal out there for Boxing Day last year. The upfront fee was just £65 and it was only £17 per month for the first 6 months, then £34 for the remaining 18. Expect similar prices, if not lower, on the new iPhone 8. The total cost over 24 months was £779 was at Mobiles.co.uk. If you'd like to take a look at the latest prices, and there are some great ones today, we've rounded up the latest iPhone 8 deals and iPhone X deals. You can certainly make an even bigger saving by taking a look at the older iPhone 7 deals too, as the phone is very similar to the iPhone 8 if we're honest.

Samsung Galaxy S7 | Vodafone | 3GB data | Unlimited calls/texts | £28 per month (+half price for 6 months)
The upfront cost was only £15 and then just £14 per month for the first six months of your deal before the price reverted to the usual £28 for the rest of the contract. That was the best Samsung Galaxy S7 deal out there and even matched last year's best Black Friday deal on the phone. This previous deal was only £603 over 24 monthsat Mobiles.co.uk. This year, we're expecting some super cheap offers on newer models. Actually, prices are pretty good right now. Take a look at our up-to-date guides for the best Samsung Galaxy S8 deals and Note 8 deals.

4K TV: This 43-inch LG 4K TV with 4K and HDR Pro screen was originally £599 and it went down to £399 at Amazon.You could also get the 55-inch version for just £550 too. 4K prices have really come down across the board this year, so you'll be able to go bigger and better for less than this!

Coffee machine: The De'Longhi Dedica coffee machine with 15 bar espresso pump went down from £199 to just £147.99 at Amazon.

Smartwatch: You could get the Huawei W1 stainless steel smartwatch at a discounted £199 at Amazon. If you're itching for an offer today, check out our selection of the best smartwatch deals.

Surface Pro 4: The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet/laptop replacement with the keyboard attachment, 128GB storage and 4GB RAM was down to £699 at Argos. There's a new version out now. Be sure to take a look at the latest Surface Pro deals.

Acer Aspire ES: This 15.6-inch Windows 10 laptop with 1TB HDD and 4GB RAM - was one of Argos' headline deals and it's down to £199.99.

Mobile phones: Save £10 on the upfront cost of any phone with the voucher code 10OFFat Mobiles.co.uk. Amazingly, this deal is still going and can be used right now on any mobile phone with the one exception of the iPhone X.

GoPro: The GoPro Hero+, which can record 1080p video at up to 60fps and stay waterproof down to 131 feet was going for a mere for £99.97 at Currys. Looking for a discount now though? We've listed all the latest GoPro deals in our guide.

Nikon D3400 DSLR camera: There was a saving of £100 on the Nikon D3400 with 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens at Currys, where it was just £369.

]]>The best Google Home and Google Home Mini prices and deals for Christmas 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/google-home-prices-deals
http://www.techradar.com/news/google-home-prices-dealsWe've rounded up and compared the best Google Home pricesFri, 08 Dec 2017 00:20:12 +0000techradar.comLooking for the best Google Home prices on the net? Or maybe you're looking for the latest deals on the new Google Home Mini? You're in the right place, as we search for and list the best deals every day!

The Google Home, and now the Google Home Mini, are amongst the leading voice-activated smart speakers on the market, similar to Amazon's Echo and Alexa devices. Simply say 'Ok Google' and ask it any question you like and Google Assistant uses the enormously powerful Google search engine to bring you the answer.

More features and apps are being added all the time, but right now you can stream music from Google Play, Spotify, Tunein or your phone. There are smart home tech features to pair it with too - so get those smart lights and thermostats told who's boss. Even the basic features prove incredibly handy, such as adding items to shopping and to-do lists, or setting alarms - finally no more burnt pizza!

So how much is the original Google Home? Most prices start around the $129/£129 mark, but retailers are slowly getting more competitive. We're seeing more discounts nowadays, or bundles often including a Chromecast dongle for free. Expect plenty of competition from the Amazon Echo deals too.

Google Home Mini deals

Google has just announced the Google Home Mini, the long-rumoured (not to mention often leaked) device that follows the earlier Google Home smart speaker. The Google Home Mini is a smaller cheaper version of Google Home. So instead of a pricey £129/$129, expect to pay around $49 in the US and £49 in the UK for relase on October 19. We're expecting official pricing and release dates for other countries soon.

Naturally, the Google Home Mini comes with Google Assistant, meaning you can enjoy asking it questions via simply starting with, "Ok, Google." And with the power of Google search engine behind it and now a super low price to match, Alexa's time may be up.

Color options include chalk (grey), charcoal (black) and coral (pink). At such a cheap price point, you may be tempted to get more than one, especially for family homes as a new Broadcast app allows you to talk to any Google Home device in the house.

We update this article with the latest Google Home Mini deals from a range of retailers as and when they appear online.

What are Google Home bases?

The bottom part of the original Google Home speaker can be swapped out for different 'bases' to replace the default grey one. They're not cheap though and the official ones are only available from the Google Store at the time of writing.

Fabric bases are the cheapest at $20/£18 and come in Mango (orange), Marine (green) and Violet. Metal bases are $40/£36 and come in Carbon (black), Copper and Snow (slightly grey). We might just have to splash out for that Violet one though.

We've seen some third-party sales and knock-offs, mainly leather-style ones, at Amazon and eBay, but nothing particularly tempting so far and the prices aren't that much cheaper either.

]]>Best headphones under Rs. 2000 in Indiahttp://www.techradar.com/news/best-headphones-under-rs-2000-in-india
http://www.techradar.com/news/best-headphones-under-rs-2000-in-indiaBest Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to our handpicked collection of the finest headphones available in India with a price tag of below Rs. 2000.Thu, 07 Dec 2017 10:28:03 +0000techradar.comMost of us eventually end up buying a new headset from a third party manufacturer to please our ears. This article is all about guiding you to purchase the best pair of headphones under Rs. 2000 to serve your needs. We have meticulously selected the 10 best earpieces which offer unmatchable acoustics while costing under a budget.

Starting from Bluetooth headsets to over-the-ear headphones and headsets with microphone and earpieces without a mic, the list contains every type of headphones to serve your various needs.

SoundMagic PL30+ C is well-known for its perfectly balanced audio output. You simply won’t need to fiddle with different equalizer settings to extract the best sound out of the headphones; the company has already done it for you. However, if you are inclined towards any specific type of acoustics, just choose the default equalizer setting for that respective niche and you’ll be done.

Speaking of the external appearance, the PL30+ C looks quite premium with its metal housing and quality construction. The headphones come in an attractive packaging which consists of a hard case, 5 sets of earbuds and a couple of hooks. For a selling price of Rs. 1699, the SoundMagic PL30+ C In-Ear Headphones are a great choice if you are a fan of well-adjusted sound output.

Sennheiser is one of the most premium audio equipment manufacturing brands in the world. The CX 275 S is just an entry level offering from the company. Still, the headphones offer a decent sound output which is a bit more inclined towards the treble side.

The Sennheiser CX 275 S fits quite well in the ears and features a composed yet premium build quality. At the time of writing this article, the headset costs Rs. 2149, but usually it is available for below Rs. 2000.

These are another pair of exceptional headphones from SoundMagic. Just like the PL30+ C, the E10C is also tuned quite well with a subtle emphasis on the bass. Precisely speaking, this is one of best headset for bass lovers under Rs. 2000.

Moving on to the build quality, the SoundMagic E10C kills it with metal construction and tangle-free wires. The retail package comprises of a plethora of earbuds, premium hard case, clip and a couple of adapters. The E10C is currently available in four attractive color choices.

The Sony MDR-EX255AP is a decent pair of in-ear headphones with good sound quality. It sports an extensive range of frequency response and delivers a balanced audio output. Little adjustments to the equalizer can reveal the true capabilities of the headset.

Build quality-wise, the mid-range earphones are on par with the competition. The semi-braided wires along with the metal casing look and feel quite premium. With real-silicon earbuds, the Sony MDR-EX255AP fits quite well in the ears.

These on-ear headphones are a paradise for bass lovers. With its huge 30 mm drivers, the Sony MDR-XB450 is capable of producing some extreme bass outputs which are quite unmatchable at its price range. However, this extra bass doesn’t mean that the headsets have weak treble. The MDR-XB450 fares quite well in the mids and the highs too.

Talking of the exterior finishing, the Sony MDR-XB450 looks quite magnificent with its flashy metallic housing and well-cushioned ear pads. However, the build quality is not that good for long term usage as some external glitches tend to appear after a year of extensive use.

With a price tag of Rs. 1999, the headphones offer great build quality with premium metal housing and sturdy cables. Look-wise, there are few headsets in this price range that can beat the Mi Pro HD.

Xiaomi’s Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD is the arguably the best you can get if your budget is Rs. 2000. This is a truly high-end earpiece which is capable of producing top notch sound output as well as unrivaled sound recording ability. The only downside is that the Pro HD requires an extensive burn out period to deliver to its full potential.

The Sony Extra Bass MDR-XB50 is another set of bass-oriented headphones from the Japanese company. The earpiece produces exceptional lows with well-balanced mids and highs. The only drawback of this headset is its comparatively lower maximum volume.

Speaking of the exteriors, the MDR-XB50 is a decent looking product with a glossy metallic finished housing. However, the best part is its true silicon earbuds which fit really well in the ears. Sony also bundles some additional earbuds of different sizes and a carry pouch along with the earphones.

The SoundMagic E30 was launched way back in 2013, but still, it is quite relevant to current standards. The earpieces generate a very well-balanced sound output with unmatchable clarity. The best part is that you can enjoy pure music which is not distorted by excessive bass. The E30 focusses more on the treble side while maintaining a composed yet tight bass.

When it comes to building quality, the SoundMagic E30 fails to impress. The headphones are made of cheap plastic with sub standard finishing. The earpieces are designed to be worn over the ears with its cables going around your earlobes. If properly plugged in, the E30 provides exceptional noise cancellation and are quite comfortable too.

The Audio-Technica ATH-AX1iS is a great pair of over-the-ear headphones which cost less than Rs. 2000. It offers a well-tuned sound output with a somewhat composed bass. These earpieces also feature inline microphone and volume control keys that work with any Android or iOS device.

Talking about the build quality, the ATH-AX1iS feels quite flimsy and the finishing is not really up to the mark. However, the headset is surprisingly quite durable and would not break off that easily. Last but not the least, the Audio-Technica ATH-AX1iS fits really well on the ears and you won’t feel uneasy after extended usage.

This is the only Bluetooth headset in our list, and believe me, it’s a gem. The BoAt Rockerz 510 not only looks awesome but also sports an excellent sound quality. The big 50 mm drivers inside the headphones churn out an unmatchable bass.

Speaking of build quality, the BoAt Rockerz 510 is an outstanding looking earpiece. With materials like faux leather and aluminum combined with good quality polycarbonate, the Bluetooth headphone not only looks great but also feels premium. If you are looking for a wireless headset under Rs. 2000, buying this is a no brainer.

]]>Best cheap headphones: your guide to the best budget headphones in 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/best-cheap-headphones
http://www.techradar.com/news/best-cheap-headphonesWant a decent pair of headphones without breaking the bank? Here are the best cheap headphones available today.Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:10:12 +0000techradar.comAt TechRadar, we’ve built a reputation for covering all the latest, greatest, and most expensive technology out there. But we do have a passion for finding great technology that you can get your hands on without taking out a second mortgage on your home to afford. At the end of the day, there is nothing more exhilarating, at least in our minds, than finding great cheap tech. That’s why we built this list – we’ve put our bargain-hunting prowess to the test, and have found all of the best cheap headphones you can buy today.

Still, headphones are, by their very nature, highly subjective and because there are just so many cheap headphones on the market, it’s impossible to bring them in and test every single pair – and we refuse to recommend anything that we haven’t tested ourselves. With that in mind, it’s entirely possible that we missed your favorite pair of headphones, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. All of the headphones on this list, however, we stand by when we call them the ‘best cheap headphones’, so if you’re looking for a new pair, you can rest easy.

With this guide, we went through a process – extensively testing a great number of cheap headphones from every corner of the internet. In-ear, over-ear, wireless – everything you can think of. We then took the results of all of this exhaustive testing, and measured each headphone against each other until we could confidently pick a few to proudly wear the ‘best cheap headphones’ badge. So rest assured, even if we didn’t pick your favorite headphone, there isn’t a single pair in this list that will disappoint.

Everybody loves earbuds due to their portability and noise-cancelling abilities. Whether on a morning commute, or just a brief walk around your neighborhood, they’re perfect. And, in this hotly popular and competitive category, the RHA S500 reigns supreme.

For its cheap price, the RHA S500 frankly has no right to sound as good as it does. We found it to have the best clarity and precision of any in-ear headphone we tested, along with a comfortable fit that doubled as a passive noise barrier. Plus, it offered solid, balanced sound with warm mids and highs and sturdy bass reproduction.

In a category with tons of great competition, the RHA S500 stands well above the rest.

We knew going into this that Anker would end up on this list somewhere. Since bursting onto the scene a few years ago, Anker has destroyed the competition, offering good-sounding in-ear headphones (and battery packs, and chargers, and cables) all for unbelievably cheap prices.

When looking for a good pair of wireless in-ear headphones, We’re always on the hunt for something that sounds good (duh!), feels comfortable to wear for long periods of time and, most importantly, doesn’t fall out mid-workout. The Anker SoundBuds NB10 does all of the above perfectly.

What we loved most about the Anker SoundBuds NB10 is its warm sound and spectacular bass response. It’s not as heavy-handed as some other in-ear headphones, but that demureness makes it great both when you’re at the gym and when it’s time to hang up the towel.

It was love at first listen with the Skullcandy Grind. These bass-heavy headphones bring a built-in microphone to the mix and offer amazing sound quality at a bargain basement price.

They do everything we want in a pair of on-ear headphones – they’re light, but not fragile. They’re powerful, but are directional enough that sound doesn’t spew out everywhere, alerting your neighbors that you’re listening to Taylor Swift again.

If Skullcandy’s low-end-heavy tone and teenager-esque style aren’t for you, there’s always the equally good Urbanears Plattan II – a more balanced pair of on-ears that cost almost exactly the same amount as the Skullcandy Grind.

As great as wired headphones can be, being constantly tethered to your phone, MP3 Player or PC can be downright irritating. If you find yourself ready to tear the cord out of the jack once and for all, you need a pair of wireless cans.

For those looking to cut the cord on the cheap, the Creative Sound Blaster JAM is the way to go. It's lightweight, sounds great and is dirt cheap. What makes it on-ear headphones? Well, the foam earpads sit directly on top of your ears instead of encompassing them entirely, something some folks find more comfortable.

Our only real complaint about the Creative Sound Blaster JAM is that, because they're on-ear headphones, they let in ambient noise like no one's business. This is totally fine for the dull roar of an office (and might even be helpful if someone needs to grab your attention real quick) but, for commuters or anyone who can't stand to hear the outside world while listening to their tunes, you're best served looking at one of the over-ear options coming up on the list.

It’s easy to spend an arm and a leg on good over-ear headphones. Barring the exception of noise-cancelling and planar magnetic cans, they are the top dogs of the audio world. Really good over-ears should be the most comfortable, most versatile headphones in your audio arsenal. They should be just as adept with Hi-Def audio sources of 16-bit/44.1KHz as they are streaming from Spotify, and they should do so without sacrificing either end of the audio spectrum.

In our testing we found a half-dozen that can do the job (the Status Audio CB-1 come to mind, as do the Sennheiser HD201 and Audio-Technica ATH-M20X) but, of them all, the Monoprice 8323 Hi-FI DJ Style Headphones are the cream of the crop. They’re a bit cheaper constructed than the others, but for their price they sound outrageously clear. Balanced and powerful, the Monoprice 8323 is the epitome of what the best cheap headphones should be.

If over-ear headphones are the swiss-army knives of headphones, noise-cancelling cans are the paring knives: they’re useful for certain purposes and not so much for others. What we mean here is that typically, noise-cancelling headphones trade overall audio fidelity for the ability to cancel out incoming sound waves – reducing or eliminating external noise.

The best noise-cancelling headphones can eliminate noise while maintaining Hi-Res Audio quality (cough, Sony MDR-1000X) while others accept the trade-off for what it is. The CB3 Hush are most definitely in the latter camp. But while we didn’t find them the best-sounding headphones of the bunch, the CB3 does deliver on its promise of cheap, effective noise-cancellation at under $100.

If you don’t mind some distorted highs and lack of low-end, the CB3 will cut out a fair amount of the external noise and should serve you well either in a busy office or on your daily commute. If you’re traveling longer distances on the regular you’ll want something a bit more heavy duty than this, but for the causal noise-canceller, the CB3 Hush will do nicely.

If we’re going to explain what, exactly, planar magnetic headphones are, we’re going to need you to do something for us: please put on your nerd glasses – or simply put electric tape around the glasses you already own.

Most headphones you’ve likely heard in your life are dynamic driver headphones. They use a magnetic field to drive the diaphragm of the speaker – a.k.a. the big pulsating cone of sound. Planar magnetic headphones also use a magnetic field to move the diaphragm, but instead of a cone, it’s a thin sheet of coils that allows for much greater sound uniformity. Stay with us here. Dynamic drivers produce spherical sound waves that are unnatural for the ear while planar magnetic produce a planar wave, which sounds more natural and give the headphones their name. The result is a truer-to-life sound that is far more robust than anything you can hear from a dynamic driver-powered pair of cans.

Tidal Force’s Wave 5 Headphones utilize this technology and cost less than half of what other companies like Oppo charge. Said simply, they sound incredible – like almost bring-a-tear-your-eye amazing. If you’re an audiophile on a budget, you should do yourself a favor and check out the Wave 5.

What to look for in cheap headphones

In order to create this guide, we’ve tested, listened to and compared over 25 headphones in every category, shape and size. When we found a great pair, we then put it against the rest back-to-back-to-back to make sure they still really deserved the title of ‘best cheap headphones’.

You might be wondering what we were looking for through all this expansive testing? Sound fidelity was clearly the most essential detail – but we also made sure to consider comfort, design and other features also.

Like most people, we prefer our music detail-rich and well-balanced. We can live with our music sounding a bit warm with an emphasis on the mids and highs, but we still like to be able to feel the bass. Also, it’s important to look for headphones with reasonable battery life if they’re wireless, a robust, durable build that will stand up to the trials of everyday commute and comfortable padding to help make longer listening sittings nice and comfortable.

Keep in mind though, that testing headphones will be, at least on some level, subjective, and our taste in tonal balance might not match yours (neither will the size of our head or the shape of our ears). Still, we’ve done our best to take subjectivity out of the equation and can present, through our expertise, the best cheap headphones that won’t hurt your wallet.

]]>The best turntables 2017: the best record players for any budgethttp://www.techradar.com/news/best-turntables
http://www.techradar.com/news/best-turntablesWhether you’re a vinyl veteran or just starting out, we’ve got a list of the best turntables for you.Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:05:40 +0000techradar.comBest Turntables Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best turntables (also known as record players) you can buy in 2017.

The vinyl revival is here, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to go anywhere any time soon – it’s become a true cultural zeitgeist. And, if anyone is aware of this trend, it’s audio equipment manufacturers: they’ve dedicated themselves to innovating and creating the best turntables that have ever existed. These aren’t your parents’ turntables. All this innovation and excitement, however, has made the market a little confusing – especially for newcomers – but stick with us, and we’ll help you find the best turntable for you.

With this guide, we will show you through all the little details that go into choosing the best turntable for your listening needs and budget. Do you want to go on the high end with a belt drive? Or how about a more user-friendly direct drive turntable? What about phono preamps? Do you need one? All of these questions will be answered right here, so don’t worry, you’ll be absorbed in all of your favorite albums before you know it.

What’s the best turntable?

One of the greatest parts of vinyl’s mainstream resurgence is the best turntables tackle this classic method of listening to music with modern technology at its disposal. These new turntables come in all shapes and sizes and can come in a wide array of different configurations. Really, the question isn’t so much ‘should i get into vinyl’ but rather ‘what kind of turntable do I need? What motor configuration and building materials should I look out for?’ That’s not even mentioning other useful secondary functionality like USB recording.

On of the most vital components to look for when you’re shopping for the best turntable is how well damped it is. Damping is essentially the method by which manufacturers combat vibrations – whether internal or external. They do this through the use of different motor configurations, and through the use of various components. Most of the time, belt-driven turntables are going to be a lot quieter and offer higher fidelity than their direct drive brethren – as direct drive turntables have a motor that is directly connected to the platter. However, there are some great direct drive turntables out there, so don’t write them off quite yet.

Your own personal needs are important too, though, so don’t forget about them. If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t need to be fooling around with a complex turntable with an adjustable vertical tracking angle, anti-skate and azimuth. Do you want to rip your vinyl to your digital library? If so, look for a turntable with a USB output and reliable software to get the job done.

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB is the best introductory turntable for aspiring vinyl enthusiasts. Out of the box, it features the ability to play 33 ⅓, 45 and 78 RPM, this means there will never be an album you can’t play. There’s also a built-in phono preamp so you never have to worry about finding one on your own.

New record collectors will love the easy setup and features while more vetted users will love the option to dial in the vertical tracking angle, tracking force and easily replaceable headshell. Sure, it looks like a Technics SL-1200 ripoff but at a fraction of the price, it’s entirely worth it.

The AT-LP120-USB also comes with a USB output that allows you to record your record collection if you want. To put it simply, this deck strikes the perfect balance of ease of use for beginners while still including some more advanced features for you to grow into.

If you’re not looking to drop a fortune on the best turntable in the world and don’t necessarily care about squeezing every last drop of fidelity from your LPs, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is a perfect starting point. It’s portable, can play most vinyl and is by far the most inexpensive turntable we have on this list. It’s also totally automatic, meaning it’ll queue a record and return the arm to resting position without requiring a manual lever.

The only caveat with a turntable this cheap is that it won’t grow with you as your vinyl collection expands. The built-in phono preamp means you’re stuck with it, however you can replace the needle once it wears out.

While there are cheaper, poorly engineered turntables on the market, it’s not worth it, as you risk damaging your precious records with poorly aligned and improperly weighted tonearms. Vinyl is expensive so we recommend the AT-LP60 for beginners just looking to get started.

The Denon DP-300F is a gorgeous turntable that sounds just as good as it looks. The included DSN-85 cartridge isn’t the most accurate but it nevertheless manages to make your music sound airy and reasonably detailed, especially for it’s price.You’ll need to spend a lot more cash to hear more detail.

While the DP-300F lacks the USB outputs of some of the turntables listed here, it’s still a great starting turntable for anyone who doesn’t want to manually queue their albums or have a habit of falling asleep while listening to music. The Denon’s automatic start/stop feature means your needle won’t be worn down at the end of the record as the arm immediately returns when an album is done.

Build quality is decent for an all-plastic turntable, but its buttons feel cheap – a minor problem but shouldn't be a deal-breaker for you. If the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB doesn’t fit your aesthetic, consider the Denon DP-300F instead.

The Fluance RT81 is an excellent starter turntable for the enthusiast. It’s simple to set up and use for newbies but you can switch out the cartridge to squeeze out more performance later on. Newbies also won’t have to worry about getting a separate phono preamp, as one is built in. However, you can turn it off if you want to use a better external preamp.

The only downside is that Fluance’s advertised “auto-off” feature simply turns off the platter, preventing excessive needle wear but you’ll still have to return the arm to its resting place yourself. You’ll also have to manually queue records, which isn’t a deal breaker by any means but is something to consider for those looking for a fully automatic turntable. The Denon DP-300F is a great choice for those looking for a fully automated record listening experience.

From here on out things start to get a little bit more ‘real’: The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is in the runnings to be the best entry-level hi-fi turntables you can buy.

While vinyl newcomers may cringe at the price, the Debut Carbon is really an incredible bargain. For the money, you get an very well made deck that’s damped properly for fantastic sound quality. The carbon fiber tonearm is lightweight and stiff, and is usually reserved for turntables costing much more.

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is for the budding enthusiast that’s committed to the record collecting hobby and because of that commitment, it doesn’t feature niceties like an auto-returning tonearm, buttons for changing speed or an included phono preamp. Newbies may be turned off by the manual changing of the belt position to change speeds and the lack of an included preamp. However, if you want to extract more detail and resolution from your records than the cheaper options on this list, or if you want to get started on the path of being a true vinyl collector, the Debut Carbon is probably your best bet.

There’s a lot of debate whether the Rega Planar 1 or the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is the best entry-level hi-fi turntable. It’s a close match and there are no clear winners, each providing an excellent starting place for audiophiles on a budget.

While the Rega may lack the fancy carbon tone arm of the Pro-Ject, the Planar 1 still sounds excellent and is well damped with its phenolic resin platter. And for newbies, the Rega Planar 1 is still easy to setup, though you’ll have to provide your own phono preamp.

Ultimately, the Rega Planar 1 just sounds so good that it’s hard to fault it too much. Vocals are revealing and you can hear the texture from instruments like the violin. The included Rega Carbon cartridge isn’t anything special but manages to be a great match for the turntable. It’s a tough choice between the Planar 1 and the Debut Carbon but you can’t go wrong with either.

The Marantz TT-15S1 costs a serious bit of change, but you’re actually getting a killer bargain. The Clearaudio Virtuoso included with the turntable is $1000 when purchased separately. Additionally, you get a killer tonearm and gorgeous turntable at a price that’s definitely an investment, but not unreasonable.

So what does the Marantz TT-15S1 get you over the competition? Attention to detail. Just about every part of the turntable has been poured over to be the best it can be for the price. The fit and finish are excellent and it’s a pleasure to handle the high-quality components. This is a turntable you’ll find yourself admiring its visual and audible qualities.

Newbies should not get this turntable as it requires more knowledge to set up properly than the entry-level turntables on this list. But if you’re ready to take your record collecting and listening to the next level, the Marantz TT-15S1 is the perfect place to start.

If the Clearaudio Concept and Marantz TT-15S1 seem familiar, that’s because the Marantz was built by Clearaudio to Marantz’s specifications. This means everything about the excellent build quality of the Marantz carries over to the Clearaudio Concept (i.e. this is a turntable that is as gorgeous as it sounds).

One small but notable difference between the Marantz and the Clearaudio is the ability to play 78 rpm records. While most people will never come across 78s, it’s nice to know that the Clearaudio Concept is capable of playing them. The Concept also has a handy speed dial on the plinth, meaning you don’t have to swap the belt position manually.

As for negatives, the Clearaudio Concept has no notable flaws. Yes, it’s expensive but you’re still getting a bargain in this price range. The included Clearaudio Concept moving-coil cartridge costs $1,000 by itself. Yep!

The Sony PS-HX500 is a great entry-level turntable for those just getting started with record collecting. Its standout feature is its ability to record Hi-Res audio from its USB output in 96kHz/24bit resolution. This is an excellent feature for those looking to digitize their records.

In terms of sound quality, the Sony PS-HX500 sound spacious and provides good detail. However, the included needle sounds a bit harsh and sibilant at times and lacks the resolution of more expensive cartridges.

While some may like the minimalist design of the Sony, it’s utterly forgettable and its plastic build leaves a lot to be desired. Handling the turntable on a daily basis leaves us wanting more premium materials that don’t rattle.

Want to listen to digital music instead? Check out our list of the best MP3 players.

]]>Want Alexa wherever you go? These headphones have Amazon's AI built-inhttp://www.techradar.com/news/want-alexa-wherever-you-go-these-headphones-have-amazons-ai-built-in
http://www.techradar.com/news/want-alexa-wherever-you-go-these-headphones-have-amazons-ai-built-in66 Audio is making the world's first pair of wireless Amazon Alexa headphones.Wed, 06 Dec 2017 18:00:17 +0000techradar.comAmazon’s smart assistant had its first taste of third-party devices earlier this year with the Huawei Mate 9 and Sonos One smart speaker, and now Alexa is making its way to another non-Amazon device: the Pro Voice, the first Bluetooth wireless headphones with Alexa built-in.

The headphones are going to be produced by 66 Audio, a Culver City, California-based audio company that specializes in athlete-friendly headphones.

Here’s how it works: The Pro Voice connects to your smart phone of choice via regular old Bluetooth. As long as the headphones then stay within 125 ft of the paired device, all you need to do is say the wake word (“Alexa”) and the headphones will start listening.

As far as we know, the version of Alexa inside the Pro Voice is the exact same one you’d find on any Amazon Echo or Amazon Fire TV device in the sense that it has access to all of Alexa’s first and third-party skills, Amazon’s Music Unlimited streaming service and the ability to control your synchronized smart home devices - only you’ll be able to do this from anywhere and everywhere you go.

The headphones are going to launch first in the US, UK, Canada and Germany on Amazon starting today, and will retail for $139.99 (around £100/AU$180).

Alexa under the hood

While the idea of carrying a smart assistant with you at all times around your neck might be off-putting for some, it presents some unique opportunities - specifically for athletes who might not always have their hands free when they’re at the gym.

One good use for the headphone might be setting a timer for crunches or push-ups while in the same breath using Amazon Music Unlimited to pull up your favorite pump-up jam. It's only a hair faster than pulling out your phone and doing those things manually but considering that the device theoretically works up to 125 ft away, it could be possible to leave your phone in your locker.

For now, products like the Pro Voice are only going to appeal to a very niche crowd, the kind that wants a smart assistant without pushing a single button and is willing to pay for it. And while it's not the most practical solution, the Pro Voice presents an interesting look at the future of headphones: one day, Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant might be around our necks 24/7.

]]>Jabra Elite 25e can give you 18 hours of music wirelessly for Rs 3,999http://www.techradar.com/news/jabra-elite-25e-can-give-you-18-hours-of-music-wirelessly-for-rs-3000
http://www.techradar.com/news/jabra-elite-25e-can-give-you-18-hours-of-music-wirelessly-for-rs-3000Users can now access information from Siri and Google Now using a dedicated voice control button.Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:54:02 +0000techradar.comJabra launched a new pair of in-ear wireless earphones in India on Tuesday. Touted as Elite 25e, the earphones come with a neckband and offer up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge. The wireless earphones will be available at Croma, Amazon and all Jabra authorized resellers at a price tag of Rs 3,999 starting today.

Coming to the specifications, the wireless earphones come with a dedicated voice control button and a message read out feature which allows users to access Siri and Google Now on the move. This means you don’t need to take your phone out of your pocket if you want to answer a call or change a song.

Improved neckband design courtesy Jabra EarGel

For better in-ear audio experience, the wireless earphones are equipped with Jabra's EarGel design which offers a comfortable fit and less audio leakage to the listeners. So, whether you prefer rich bass or crisp high tunes, your sound quality needs won’t be compromised, claims the company. Also, the improved neckband design promises to offer all-day comfort to users.

Commenting on the launch, Calum MacDougall, SVP at Jabra said, “The Jabra Elite 25e is engineered with the multi-tasking, on-the-go person in mind who values high-quality conversations and music while on the move. No product currently on the market delivers this level of battery life and experience for the Jabra Elite 25e’s price point. Therefore, we believe this product, following in the footsteps of the hugely successful Jabra Elite Sport, is worthy of the name Elite.”

The wireless earphones are IP54 rated, which makes it wind and water resistant. Also, the Multiuse feature allows users to connect the earphones with two devices at the same time via Bluetooth and up to 8 devices in total.

]]>The best cheap Amazon Echo deals for Christmas 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-amazon-echo-and-amazon-echo-dot-deals
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-amazon-echo-and-amazon-echo-dot-dealsAmazon Echo speakers are on sale today, so get in the sales spirit and don't overpay for an Alexa speaker.Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:35:55 +0000techradar.comFinding Amazon Echo deals got a lot simpler thanks to the fact that you landed on this page. You can save on more than just the original Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot now that the retailer 2017 the company announced a swathe of new devices, as well as updates for its existing models.

There's also more to come, with another screen-equipped device, the Amazon Echo Spot, coming out in the US soon.

But with so many devices to choose from, how do you know you're getting the best deal? We’ve scoured the internet for all the best Amazon Echo deals, so you can join the voice assistant revolution as cheaply and as easily as possible.

But what exactly is a voice assistant?

We’ve grown used to the likes of Siri and Google Assistant on our phones providing us with information without having to press a single button, but the Amazon Echo is a little different. Instead of a phone, it’s an internet-connected speaker that sits in your home and listens for you to give it instructions.

The speakers themselves are a little expensive, but with our help you should be able to find a cheap Amazon Echo, and get yourself a great Alexa deal. So read on for the cheapest places to buy an Amazon Echo.

Amazon Echo deals

The Amazon Echo is the standard version of the speaker, and is the second generation of the device. This new version is a little shorter than the original, but its got an upgraded speaker powered by some neat Dolby processing.

This is the 'just right' option in the Echo lineup. It's not as budget as the Amazon Echo Dot, and nor is it as premium as the Amazon Echo Plus.

Amazon Echo Dot deals

The Amazon Echo Dot is the smaller of the two speakers. It manages to save this space by including a much smaller speaker, which consequently offers a much weaker sound. The good news is that if you want to do some serious music listening then you’re able to plug the Echo Dot into an external speaker using its 3.5mm jack. It’s also a great deal cheaper than the original Echo, meaning that it’s a great way of cheaply getting Alexa into your home, or perhaps adding a second speaker to your setup.

Amazon Echo Plus deals

The Amazon Echo Plus, as its name implies, is the bigger and better version of the Amazon Echo for 2017. It's actually similar in size to the original Amazon Echo, but next to its second generation it looks a lot taller.

The difference between the Plus and the Echo is the inclusion of slightly better speakers on the Plus, as well as a smart home hub that theoretically removes the need for other hubs to be plugged into your router to get different smart home devices working.

Amazon Echo Show deals

The Amazon Echo Show is currently the only Echo device available that comes equipped with a screen. After releasing first in the US, the speaker has more recently made its way to the UK.

Like its siblings, the Dot, the Plus and the Echo, the Show can play music, control your smart home and make calls to other Echo devices.

However, what makes it different is that it's display allows you to get visual information as well as audio. That means you'll be able to see the name of songs while they're playing, read recipes right off the screen or see more in-depth five-day weather forecasts without asking Alexa to repeat herself time and time again.

Amazon Echo (2014) deals

The original Amazon Echo might be looking a bit long in the teeth these days, but its age means that it's likely to see some discounts in the coming months.

It might not have the improved speakers or Dolby audio processing of the newer models, but this is still a very capable entrypoint into the Echo ecosystem.

]]>The best headphones for every budget in 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/best-headphones-1280340
http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/best-headphones-1280340Looking for the best headphones around? Check out our in-depth guide on how to choose the right ones for you.Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:30:00 +0000techradar.comBest Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best headphones you can buy on any budget in 2017.

The benefits of a decent pair of headphones are obvious as soon as you start playing your favorite song.

Clearer sounds, tighter, more focussed bass, and more detail in your music are just a few of the benefits of spending a little more.

Dig a little deeper and you can also get your hands on advanced functionality like noise-cancellation and wireless operation, and you can do so without emptying your bank account.

We've selected the best headphones for each form-factor, and we've even picked out a less-costly option for each so that you should be able to find an excellent pair of headphones, no matter what your budget.

After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges.

For $100 (£100, about AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better sounding and built headphone than the 1MORE Triple Driver. (That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.)

There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Its rubber cable is annoying and its remote control feels cheap but these are just nitpicks. But, for its price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE's Triple Driver in-ear headphones.

If you have a tendency to lose or break headphones but still value sound quality, it’s hard to think of a better value than the RHA S500u. These headphones have no business sounding so good for the price: Sound quality is balanced with a slight mid-bass bump. Bass is slightly emphasized but not egregiously and features good impact while maintaining good control. And highs, while sibilant at times, makes music sound more exciting.

For your money, you can't do any better than Grado's SR60e. The third-generation of the Brooklyn, NY-based company's Prestige Series is its best and most refined yet. The SR60e in particular is a smart choice if you're looking for an entry-level set of headphones that sounds like it should cost you way more than it does. Its open-backed ear cup design makes them a more breathable experience than what most on-ear headphones can deliver. In a few words, it's our gold-standard when it comes to on-ears.

(Our review is for the SR60i, but the newer SR60e headphones are largely similar in design and performance.)

The Oppo PM-3's are a truly stunning pair of headphones. Make no mistake, we've reviewed a lot of headphones in the last 10 years but none have we become more fond of than the PM-3.

They're equally comfortable being plugged into a headphone amp at home as they are commuting through the hustle and bustle of a big city, and they stand head and shoulders above rival products from bigger brands. We really can't recommend them highly enough, they're just amazing.

AKG has the right idea when it comes to budget headphones. Instead of spending lots of money on an expensive, heavy construction, the company has instead clearly spend the bulk of its money on the K92's drivers, which sound appropriately excellent.

So yes, the K92's might feel a little plastic-y, but they have a good amount of power where it matters the most.

When you buy a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, you're often trading sound quality for the ability to block out outside noise. It's a trade that we've been willing to make for years because, honestly, we just hadn't been able to find a headphone that could do both noise-cancellation and Hi-Res audio.

Until now.

The Sony WH-1000XM2 is the follow-up to the surprisingly great MDR-1000X. They might have a slightly shorter battery life than Bose’s flagship over-ear headphones, the QuietComfort 35, but Sony’s WH-1000XM2 outclass the QC35 in terms of both performance for the price and overall feature-set.

Philips presents an elegant noise-cancelling solution with its NC1. These on-ear headphones aren't wireless, but that's hardly a reason to knock them. Coming in at $129, the NC1 are a more compact set that's high on comfort and battery life.

In the box come headphones, a hard case for storage and the headphones rock a rechargeable battery that provides noise cancellation for close to 30 hours. But best of all, the sound performance is extremely well balanced and warm.

These no-holds-barred wireless headphones are oozing with positive qualities, but for many, they're almost prohibitively expensive. However, if you're an audio lover that can spare the expense, do not hesitate on this comfortable, hard-working set of headphones that will likely last for years.

Continuing the trend that the original NuForce BE6 started, the Optoma Nuforce BE6i are a minor update to an already great pair of earbuds and remain one of our favorite in-ear wireless headphones for the price.Offering good sound, build quality and battery life in its segment if you're looking for a pair of wireless in-ear headphones that can survive a strenuous work out, the these should be on the top of your list of headphones to try.

Since the release of the AirPods the popularity of 'true wireless' earbuds, which remove the cable between the two earbuds, have exploded.

The Jabra Elite Sport are the best of the bunch at the moment. They not only feature great sound quality, but they'll also track your heart rate during workouts.

Because they need to fit their entire body into your ears the Jabra Elite Sport don't have as long a battery life as other wireless pairs, but if you want the freedom true wireless affords then there's little out there that can compete.

Press on to page two to see how to pick out a good pair of headphones along more of our recommendations.

There's usually more to a set of headphone than meets the eye. As such, we've provided a breakdown of what you can expect to find in each kind of headphone.

Not only will learning more about headphones help you make a more informed purchase, but you'll know when you're really getting your money's worth.

In-ear headphones

This type of headphone, more commonly referred to as an earbud or earphone, is usually the cheapest and easiest way to pump audio into your ears. If you've purchased an MP3 player, or more recently, a smartphone, it's likely that a set was included with the purchase.

Earphones rest in or just outside the ear canal, creating a tight seal to keep air out and sound in. Compared to other types of headphones, these are the most discreet ones you'll find. Their small form-factor also makes them the king/queen of portability and the prime choice for athletes.

You're not likely to find strong performers at the low-end of the price spectrum. Their sound delivery is generally muddled, lacking bass and overcompensating for that with harsh mids and highs. That said, it won't cost you much money at all to find a value-packed option complete with inline controls and a microphone.

On-ear headphones

While similar to over-ear headphones in appearance, they fit to your head a little differently. Instead of enveloping your ears with a soft cushion, on-ear headphones create a light, breathable seal around your ear. Thus, the noise isolation is much less effective than in-ear or over-ear options. This might be a dealbreaker for some, but there are big benefits to consider here.

On-ear headphones are usually more portable than their over-ear brethren, and as such they appeal to travellers and the fitness crowd. Taking a walk or a jog around town is also safer, as you can hear traffic go by and be aware of potential hazards.

Over-ear headphones

This ear-muff style of headphone generally provides greater richness and depth of sound, which allows listeners to pick apart the instruments and sounds much easier. Additionally, over-ear, or circum-aural headphones, go around the ear and offer a generous amount of padding.

The price range for a set of on-ear headphones begins around $100 and from there, the sky's the limit. For example, the Oppo PM-1, while excellent, are priced exorbitantly at $1,099. It's definitely not necessary to spend that much. That said, you tend to get what you pay for.

If your headphone budget is in the $2-300, you'll start getting into options that have excellent build quality, premium materials and amazing sound and features like ANC (active noise cancellation.)

Wireless headphones

This style of headphone doesn't limit you to a specific form factor like the others. In fact, you can find in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphone styles sans wire.

Opting to go wireless will cost you a premium of anywhere between $50-100 over the price of wired cans. Going futuristic isn't cheap. One important thing to consider is that your music player must support the Bluetooth wireless protocol, as it's required to use this type of headphone.

Speaking of Bluetooth, it has become exponentially more reliable over time, but it's always susceptible to disturbances in the force. In short, any little thing, from the understandable (conflicting Wi-Fi signals, microwaves, cordless telephones), to the absurd (sticking a hand in the space between the device and the headphones) can sometimes interrupt a wireless listening experience.

Noise-cancelling headphones

This category, like wireless headphones, isn't limited to a form factor. You can find this clever mix of technologies integrated into the ear pieces of in-ear and over-ear headphones alike.

Many companies falsely claim to offer true noise cancellation with just the padding included around the ear cups. Don't believe it. This is PNC (passive noise cancellation), and it doesn't amount to much. You can even replicate this effect by cupping your hands around your ears, so why shell out the big bucks for it?

On the other hand, ANC (active noise cancellation) is the real deal. This technique employs a set of external microphones, which detect the decibel level outside. Once it has an idea of the incoming noise level, the headphone speakers inside transmit a noise generated to dampen the racket. The end result is an effect that hushes the outside noise, allowing you to focus.

]]>The best noise-cancelling headphones 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/best-noise-cancelling-headphones-1280490
http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/best-noise-cancelling-headphones-1280490We've rounded up 10 of the best noise-cancelling headphones. Come take a listen.Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:30:00 +0000techradar.comBest Noise-Cancelling Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy in 2017.

Far from being the niche product of a few years ago, noise-cancelling headphones have since exploded onto the mainstream. Now, you can find them lining airplane aisles the world over, not to mention buses, trains and nearly any other form of transportation prone to loud, low rumbling.

It's not hard to see why they're so popular: Noise-cancelling headphones massively reduce background noise, meaning that the rumble of a plane's engines or a train carriage don't get in the way of your music.

This not only makes your music clearer and easier to hear, but it also means you can listen to it at a lower volume, which your ears will thank you for.

Even in their most basic form these headphones are still much better than a traditional pair of headphones in terms of keeping outside sound at bay, but if you opt for one of our top picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones, you'll get a pair that will also make your music sound pretty good in the process.

Talk about a win-win.

The Sony WH-1000XM2 are an excellent revision of an already great pair of headphones: They sound great, deftly wield noise cancellation technology and cost just as much as a pair of Bose QC35s. They might have a slightly shorter battery life than Bose’s flagship over-ear headphones, but Sony’s WH-1000XM2 outclass the QC35 in terms of performance and feature-set.

You’d want to pick these Sony headphones over the Bose because not only do they provide the same level of awesome noise-cancellation, but they have three neat tricks that Bose just doesn't have on its headphones: One is an ambient noise mode that only lets in mid-to-high frequency tones (announcements over a loudspeaker, for instance) and another being Quick Attention mode that allows you to let in all outside noise without taking off the headphones. (The latter is perfect when giving a drink order on a plane or speaking to a coworker for a brief moment before diving back into your work.) The last trick Sony has up its sleeve is the LDAC codec. Alongside the widely adopted aptX HD standard, LDAC enables Hi-Res Audio playback using the 1000XM2.

Great-sounding, feature-packed and just as affordable as the competition? The Sony WH-1000XM2 are our all-around pick for best noise-cancelling cans.

Philips presents a more elegant noise-cancelling solution with its NC1. These on-ear headphones aren't wireless like our top pick, but that's hardly a reason to knock them. Coming in at $299, the same price as Bose' QuietComfort 25, the NC1 are a more compact set that's high on comfort and battery life.

You get a lot for the money here. In the box comes the headphones, a hard case for storage and the headphones rock a rechargeable battery that provides noise cancellation for close to 30 hours. But best of all, the sound performance is extremely well balanced and warm.

Coming in at the number three spot is the Bose QuietComfort 35. They're more expensive then the Philips NC1, but the Bose QC35 headphones offer wireless connectivity, so you can be free from cabling as well as background noise.

They're also a much better sounding pair of headphones than Bose's previous (wired) attempt, the Bose QC25s, and their battery life is long enough for all but the longest of flights. Of course, they also come with a cable in case you want to use them with a device that doesn't support Bluetooth.

At $349 (£289 / AU$499) the QC35s sit firmly at the premium end of the spectrum, but if you want the best noise-cancelling headphones available right now at any price then there are few out there that can compete.

A few years ago, the Bose QuietComfort 25 are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've ever used. The lows, mids and highs came through clear as day, never stepping over each other. Music of all sorts sounded predictably incredible. With the noise-cancellation turned on, we never felt further immersed and concentrated than when we let the QC25 engulf our ears.

But that was a few years ago and time has moved on since. Bose has released not just one sequel to these headphones, but two: the QC35 and QC35 II with Google Assistant built in, both of which we'd recommend above the QC25.

But, it's not all bad. If you don't mind using the older, wired headphones, the QC25s are a finely-tuned set of cans that provide over 35 hours of very good noise-cancelling performance with one AAA battery.

The MDR-1000X are definitely the closest competitor to Bose's QuietComfort series we've ever had the pleasure of testing. Some high-end codecs (LDAC, AAC and aptX) help the 1000X sound even better than the QC35s, but ultimately the noise cancelling is a bit less effective in Sony's pair of cans.

What should drive your decision on whether to buy the MDR-1000X is your music player – if you're a Sony Xperia owner, you'd be hard-pressed to find a pair of headphones that sound as good as these with noise canceling tech built-in. Even if you're not, Sony's wares are still worth a listen – and maybe a purchase – if you aren't too put out by its $400 (£330 / AU$700) price tag.

If you prefer on-ear noise-cancellation, then the AKG N60NC Wireless are a great pair of headphones.

At their mid-range price point the headphones offer fantastic value for money, with great sound quality and a level of noise-cancellation performance that's on a level with the much more premium entries on this list.

These are a fantastically compact pair of headphones, and offer a very complete package for the price.

With noise-cancelling tech just as effective as that in headphones from rival Bose, and with a more musical sonic ability, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC are a definite contender for the noise-cancelling crown. More affordable and easy to travel with, these lightweight headphones are a great value all-rounder, whether for flights, commuter trains or busy offices.

Design-wise, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs seem a more slimmed-down, lighter and more focused effort than the bulky and expensive alternatives from Bose and Sony; and crucially, the HD 4.50 BTNCs are just as good with audio, and almost as good on noise-canceling. Whether you're after noise canceling for long-haul ravel, for the commute, or just to stay more productive in a noisy office, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNCs are worth considering.

With the second generation Plantronics BackBeat Pro, Plantronics went back to the drawing board to fix many of the issues owners complained about the original. The BackBeat Pro 2, therefore, manage to keep all the great things about the original and improved upon its shortcomings, like its bulk and weight.

In terms of value, the BackBeat Pro 2 are basically a steal. With the BackBeat Pro 2, you’re getting a travel headphone with incredible battery life, supreme comfort, the ability to pair two device as once and, most importantly, good sound quality for the cost. If you don’t want to drop $350 (£290, AU$500) on the Bose QuietComfort 35 or $400 (£330 or AU$700) on Sony’s flagship MDR-1000X, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 should be on the top of your shopping list.

The PXC 550's greatest strength is their sound. Other wireless noise-cancelling headphones might offer a better user interface or better noise-cancellation technology, but ultimately none of the above match up to the sound quality of these Sennheisers.

However, that said, there are a couple of irritations that prevent us from being able to fully and unreservedly recommend them, such as unresponsive touch controls These annoyances aren't quite deal-breakers, but there are definitely other noise-cancelling headphones out there that don't suffer from the same issues.

The Samsung Level On Pro Wireless are one of the few headphones we've tested that feel like they're meant as a package deal for another device. Yes they'll work with every Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack-equipped handset on the market, but you're better off sticking to a Samsung device in order to squeeze every ounce of aural goodness from the Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio codec.

It's one of the comfiest pair of cans on the market, and they're also much cheaper than a lot of the competition. If it had a better sound quality for the vast majority of cell phone users it would be an easy recommendation but, as it stands, really makes the most sense at checkout when purchased alongside Samsung's Next Big Thing.

We're constantly reviewing new noise-cancelling headphones, but let us know on Twitter if there is a set that you'd like us to take a look at.

]]>The best cheap soundbar deals in December 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/soundbar-deals
http://www.techradar.com/news/soundbar-dealsWant a cheap, spectacular-sounding soundbar? We’ve compiled a list of the best deals in town.Tue, 05 Dec 2017 08:40:47 +0000techradar.comJust like you should never doubt the immense power of a soundbar to simulate surround sound as you watch movies on your television, never doubt the power of a deal. Saving on a unibody speaker is impossibly easy and even the cheapest soundbar can still add power and clarity to the audio on a level your regular TV's speakers simply can't.

While the results speak for themselves, trying to find the best soundbar deals can be an exercise in tedium. It’s a world filled with random series of numbers (take, for example, the Vizio SB-3830-D0 38-inch soundbar) and crazy differences in price. It’s overwhelming for most, and inconvenient for everyone. But that’s why you have us.

What’s the best soundbar deal?

This answer is going to be different for everyone. Some people are fine with a standard soundbar – no subwoofer, no streaming capabilities. Others might want the sub, but no streaming. Others might want all of the above, plus two satellite speakers. It’s a your-miles-may-vary situation.

That said, we can give you some good ideas of what to look for and where to find those great deals when they pop up.

For most folks, you really just want the basic package: a soundbar with a digital audio cable input that should connect to most modern TVs. You can get a bit tricky with HDMI passthroughs, RCA inputs and 3.5mm jacks, but sometimes basic is better. Of course, we also recommend looking for soundbars with a subwoofer included, that way you’ll get the full audio range from your favorite TV shows and movies, not just the highs and the mids.

There’s plenty of soundbars to pick from, and more coming out every week, so without further ado here are the best soundbar deals we’ve found this month.

Samsung's HW-J355 is one of the best-selling soundbars, and for good reason. Not only does it offer good sound quality from its four combined-120W tweeters, but also comes with a wired subwoofer to add some meat to the sound. It's a bit on the trim side at 37.13 x 2.28 x 2.56 inches, but it only weighs 3.5 lbs. The accompanying subwoofer is wired, so that might be one hang-up, and you won't find a ton of ports here. On the plus side, though, it comes with 3D Sound Plus, which tries to simulate a surround sound effect using some clever sonic tricks. If you don't mind something basic, this is your guy.

Don't want to be tied to a subwoofer? We don't blame you. If you want the same robust quality of sound without the extra black box, check out the Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System. The bar measures in at a fair 2.6 x 21.6 x 3.4 inches (H x W x D) and 3.73 lbs, making it easy to wall-mount. As far as inputs and outputs are concerned it takes optical audio, coaxial audio and 3.5mm auxiliary. It comes with a remote control, which we appreciate, and has built-in Bluetooth.

The M3 soundbar is easy to love. It might not be the most glamorous to look at, stubbornly only supports 2.1 channels of sound, and has never heard of Wi-Fi, but if there’s a better sounding soundbar on the market for less than £300/$300, we haven’t heard it. Unfortunately, there's no subwoofer here or shot at simulated surround sound, but that's because Q Acoustics has very deliberately kept things simple by not attempting to ‘muddy the waters’ by trying to apply (often ugly) psycho-acoustic processing.

If you're looking for a soundbar that strikes the balance between feature set, performance and price, LG's SH7B is it. That said, it might cost a bit more than you were looking to spend. Thankfully, it's very often on sale. This soundbar measures in at 41.73 x 2.09 x 3.35 inches, making it perfect for 49-inch and up TVs. The soundbar excels in the movie department – lasers, explosions and crushing bodily impacts in football hit home with impactful blasts of sound –that said, it's probably not the best soundbar for the music lover out there.

Not content with dominating the TV world, Samsung now seems to have its sights set on becoming the number one brand for home entertainment audio, too. To that end, the Samsung HW-MS650 Sound+ Soundbar is one of our favorite pieces of AV equipment made this year – which is why we gave it our coveted Editor's Choice award when it came out in April.

Samsung has rewritten the rulebook with the HW-MS650. No other one-body soundbar has combined so much raw power with so much clarity, scale and, especially, bass, or excelled so consistently with both films and music. It’s the sort of performance that only genuine audio innovation can deliver.

If you can afford it, this is the soundbar you need in your living room.

One of the best deals on high-end soundbars comes in the form of Sony's HT-NT5. This 6.1 soundbar offers 400 watts of power and, for the audiophiles out there, supports 24-bit/96KHz Hi-Res Audio. The main bar is 42.51 x 2.28 x 5.00 inches (W x H x D) while the accompanying wireless subwoofer sits at a portly 7.48 × 15.0 × 15.2 inches. As far as inputs and outputs are concerned, it has Analog Audio In, Bluetooth Reception, Bluetooth Transmission, Ethernet, USB, three HDMI-Ins and one HDMI-Out. Beyond traditional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth the HT-NT5 also supports multi-room listening through Sony's SongPal app, and works with Google Home.

Just when you think you really know a company, it goes and releases something completely out of left-field. Take Razer: historically, it’s been a peddler of pointers and the king of keyboards. Then they release the Razer Leviathan, a really smart soundbar that costs less than most TVs. Razer's audio monster might not have the most power-per-inch at only 30 watts, but we really liked how low it could go with the accompanying subwoofer. Plus, while other speakers on this list might not even attempt surround sound, Razer gives it the ol' college try and actually does a decent job with it. It might not be as good as a true 7.1 system, but try finding one of those for under $199/£159.

With four HDMI inputs and 4K passthrough, myriad other connections and Bluetooth streaming, it's tempting to call the Arcam Solo Bar as much of a home cinema hub as a soundbar. It also adds Bluetooth aptX for good measure, rendering your streamed tunes listenable at last. Well connected it may be, but this 1,000 x 130 x 110mm unit offers more than one-cable nirvana, with its two speakers offering a lot more meat than the average flat TV. Want more welly? Just add Arcam's wireless Solo Sub. Want it for a steal? We've got you covered.

]]>The best cheap Sonos deals for Christmas 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/cheap-sonos-deals
http://www.techradar.com/news/cheap-sonos-dealsWant to start your multi-room Sonos setup? Check out these great deals on Play:1, Play:3 and the new Playbase.Tue, 05 Dec 2017 08:25:38 +0000techradar.comWhen you think of multi-room audio, only one name comes to mind: Sonos. For myriad reasons, these handy and easy-to-setup speakers have become the de facto method of pumping audio throughout your home for the last decade.

But why go for a Sonos? They're simple to use and sound great, plus they enable you to control the music from wherever you are in the house by syncing multiple speakers to the same song. It's one heck of a party trick.

Here’s the problem: Sonos speakers can be darn expensive … unless you find a good deal. That’s where we come in. We’ve put together the ultimate guide to the best cheap Sonos deals so you don’t have to scavenge the internet wasteland looking for them.

Below you’ll find the best deals on the regular speakers – Sonos Play:1, Play:3 and Play:5 – but also the Sonos Playbar, Sub and Connect as well.

Are you here for a deal on the brand-new Sonos Playbase? Don't worry, we didn't forget about the latest addition to the Sonos family. If you're looking for the best Sonos Playbase deals, we've got those as well.

Here are some prices in the US we've found, but if you're in the UK or Australia, keep scrolling down for more deals.

So what’s a good deal?

Good deals are subjective, obviously. But if we were in your shoes, we’d wait for at least a $50/£35/AU$75 off sale. These happen around the holidays, mostly, but can happen randomly throughout the year as well.

If you’re looking for a recommendation, your best bet is to start your Sonos system with a Play:5, the big brother of the bunch, and work your way down. We also have a soft spot in our heart for the Playbar (it’s on our best soundbar list, after all) and a Play:1 is a good pick if you’re looking to move the party outdoors. If you want the latest and greatest from Sonos, check out the brand-new Sonos Playbase – it's a speaker and TV stand all in one package.

OK, without further ado, here are the best Sonos deals we’ve found this month.

Sonos and Alexa, Amazon's smart personal assistant, are a perfect match for one another - it's almost a wonder it's taken this long for the two of them to meet. Regardless, the Sonos One is here now and it combines the best of both worlds. The One is able to call upon Alexa to answer basic inquiries, adjust appointments on your calendar and, for Amazon Prime members, voice access to Amazon's expansive Music Unlimited library. It's already an excellent sounding speaker but, with Google Assistant support expected in 2018 and many more updated to Alexa sure to come over the years, the Sonos One is only going to get better over time.

The Sonos Play:1 is the alpha in Sonos' alphabet. It's not the most powerful of the bunch, but it definitely knows how to get the job done. It's 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inches (161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7 mm) and 4.08 lbs (1.85 kg) but it can really kick. It comes in two colors – white with light metallic grille and black with graphite grille – and works with standard wall mounts and speaker stands. We love how easy it is to setup and its awesome sound quality, but thought that its low end could use a bit of oomph. Still, if you're looking to start a Sonos system without spending a lot, the Sonos Play:1 is the place to start.

The Sonos Play:3 is the middle child of the bunch. It's more powerful than the puny Play:1, but doesn't have the same room-filling audio that you get from the Play:5. For some people, though, it's just right. So how big is it? The Play:3 is 5.2 x 10.6 x 6.3 inches (132 x 268 x 160 mm) and weighs 5.71 lbs. (2.6 kg). It comes in two colors – white with light metallic grille and black with graphite grille – and works with standard wall mounts and speaker stands. It has three Class-D amplifiers, one tweeter, two mid-woofers and a bass radiator. Again, here you'll find great audio quality and a pretty easy setup.

Here it is, the grand kahuna of the Sonos systems. The Sonos Play:5 is everything you can want in a network speaker. It gets loud, but also sounds crystal clear at top volumes. It's obviously a bigger than its brethren, however, so keep that in mind before you try stuffing one into a one-room apartment. So how big is it? It's 8.03 x 14.33 x 6.06 inches (203 x 364 x 154 mm) and weighs 14 lbs. (6.36 kg). It comes in two colors – white or black matte enclosure with graphite grille – and contains two built-in microphones that can tune it for your space. Unlike the Play:3 it has five Class-D amplifiers, three tweeters, three mid-woofers and a phased speaker array that separates sound into its three channels – left, right and center. Good sound doesn't come cheap, but once you hear a Sonos Play:5 speaker you won't want anything else.

TVs might look great, but most of them definitely don't sound all that good. That's why Sonos made the Playbar, a soundbar that can produce top-tier audio quality while simultaneously syncing up to your other multi-room speakers. It's definitely expensive, no doubt about it, but there's no other soundbar this well-connected. Here are some specs: First off, it's 3.35 x 35.43 x 5.51 inches (85 x 900 x 140 mm) and weighs 11.9 lbs. (5.4kg). It only comes in one color and requires a separate mounting kit if you want to mount it beneath your screen. Unlike the Play:5, it has nine Class-D amplifiers, three tweeters and six mid-woofers – that can put out a ton of noise.

Three years after the company released its first ever soundbar, the Playbar, Sonos has created the Playbase, a unique form factor sound system that combines a stable pedestal for your TV with an audio cabinet.

Why did Sonos create a second home entertainment device? The team did extensive research into how people used their Playbar at home and found that most people didn’t wall mount their televisions or Playbars. To that end, the Playbase was created to allow people to set their televisions right on top of the speaker, allowing for a compact home theater solution.

Overall, the Sonos Playbase is a good-sounding speaker for those who don’t want to fumble with a surround sound system or simply don’t have the room for one. There’s no need for a receiver, making it truly plug-and-play. Sonos’ philosophy of making music enjoyment as frictionless as possible continues with the Playbase – the Sonos app is easy to use and the integrated universal search across music services is something we wished every speaker had.

Sonos systems are great. Like seriously great. We want to call them perfect, and yet without some sort of low-end support they just aren't. For that you need the Sonos Sub, the additional audio piece that adds a hefty amount of bass to your favorite music genres. The design here is a bit funky, we'll admit, but hey, if you were looking for a conversation starter (and ender) at your next house party, this is it. That said, it's 15.3 x 15.8 x 6.2 inches (389 x 402 x 158 mm) and weighs 36.3 lbs (16 kg). It's available in two colors – premium white gloss and premium black gloss – that can match either your Playbar or Play:5 speaker. Inside you'll find two Class-D amplifiers, two force-cancelling speaker drivers and dual acoustic ports that help the Sub reach a low frequency of about 25Hz.

There's nothing wrong with your old audio equipment. You've invested years in setting up and tuning your system, and there's no reason to let any of that go to waste. For anyone interested in keeping the equipment they already own but add on a streaming or mutil-room audio component, Sonos Connect is your solution. While it's not exactly a player in its own right, Sonos Connect allows you to send or receive audio streams. That means you can hook it up to your receiver to send out your favorite CD over the airwaves in your home, or set it up with your old floor speakers to bring them into the 21st century.

]]>The best cheap headphone deals in December 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/headphone-deals
http://www.techradar.com/news/headphone-dealsWe've scoured the net for the best headphone deals and here's what turned up. Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:25:39 +0000techradar.comWe've all been faced with a decision when buying a new pair of headphones: Do we go for the nice, expensive pair of headphones that we've been dreaming of, or do we shell out for first pair of $5/£3 headphones we see on the rack?

We get it. Headphones can be cheap. Like, dirt cheap. But as tempting as it is to shell out for something dirt cheap, don't do it. The kind of headphones you find in discount bins around the world are there for a reason – they suck.

But here's the good news: You don't need to spend a ton to get the headphones of your dreams. Sure, you probably aren't going to find a good pair of Sennheisers or Sonys for the cost of hamburger, but you can find a half-dozen great headphones for less than the cost of a dinner out with friends.

It’s with that in mind that we've narrowed down a list of headphones that not only sound good and feel good, but are priced appropriately for all you cost-conscious audioholics out there.

So what’s a good deal?

It’s hard to put a number on it, and the form factor of the headphone usually has a lot to do with its price. A good pair of cheap in-ear headphones are going to cost a lot less than a good pair of cheap over-ear headphones. That being said, I’ll highlight a few styles below so you can pick and choose which style – and price-point – works for you.

But don’t worry. As long as you’re cutting 30% off retail and staying away from some of the bigger headphone manufacturers who tend to inflate their prices (cough, Beats), you can hardly go wrong.

Without further ado, here are the best headphone deals we found this month.

We're not sure how Skullcandy crammed such excellent-sounding drivers into such a cheap headset, but somehow, some way, it absolutely did. The Skullcandy Grind is one of our favorite wired on-ear headphones – it's cheap, sounds incredible and looks awesome. Also, while most headphones make a statement using a logo, branding on these headphones is subtle, with a small logo stamped onto each of the sidearms. While Skullcandy isn't super transparent about the specs of its headsets, the Grind offers exquisite sound quality, complete with beefy bass response and articulate delivery of mids and highs. We tried a wide variety of music samples to see if we could find a weak point in these cans and, nope, we couldn't. The only weak point here is that it doesn't have volume controls built-in. But that's not a huge bummer.

We rigorously test cheap headphones – I mean, we really put these thing through their paces. And after testing dozens of in-ears, the two that stood head and shoulders above the rest were the RHA S500 and the Creative EP-630. While you could shell out $40 for the RHAS500 your money might be better spent on the EP-630, considering it will set you back less than $20. A pair of awesome-sounding headphones for less than the cost of a dinner date? Sign us up.

When looking for a good pair of wireless in-ear headphones, We’re always on the hunt for something that sounds good (duh!), feels comfortable to wear for long periods of time and, most importantly, doesn’t fall out mid-workout. The Anker SoundBuds NB10 does all of the above perfectly.

What you'll love most about the Anker SoundBuds NB10 is its warm sound and spectacular bass response. The low-end isn't as heavy-handed as some other in-ear headphones, but that demureness makes it great both when you’re at the gym and when it’s time to hang up the towel and head home for the night.

A good pair of in-ear headphones (often referred to as earbuds) really shouldn't cost you that much. And yet, everywhere you look, it seems companies are all too willing to charge upwards of $100/£100 for a decent pair of drivers. Thankfully, there's AKG, a quality headphone maker that isn't afraid to buck the trend of expensive pairs of cans. One of our favorite pieces of hardware from AKG is its Y20U in-ear headphones – a solid pair of headphones that sound great and don't break the bank.

If you're looking for a pair of cheap headphones that are as stylish as you are, check out the Beyerdynamic Byron In-Ear Monitors. Not only do these headphones look and feel great, but they sound great, too. The headphones are compatible with both iOS and Android devices, and come with a carrying pouch and three pairs of tips to help you get the right in-ear fit.

Why should you pick the Optoma NuForce BE Sport3 instead of the Momentum In-Ear, because it's one of the cheapest (and best-sounding) in-ear headphones we've ever found. And, good news, it's usually on sale to boot. Not only are these earbuds IP55 rated, making them rain, dust and sweat resistant, but they also have really balanced sound that works well for every genre and incredible noise isolation. They're perfect for the gym because they weigh just 18 grams and don't need to connect to your phone via a dangling, easy-to-knock off cable. Optoma says the frequency response goes from 20 to 20,000Hz, and it has a sensitivity of 102dB +/-3dB at 1kHz. On the debit side, though, there are some horror stories out there of the BE Sport3's batteries being a bit difficult to work with, so keep that in mind.

You may know Marshall for its guitar amplifiers, often used on stage by rock stars and amateurs alike, but the company does way more than just amps. In the past few years, Marshall's produced several lines of headphones, a Bluetooth speaker or two and even a smartphone. Marshall's headphones have been universally solid offerings that target the fashion-conscious more than the audiophile. Its latest offering, the Marshall Major II Bluetooth, is the company's first wireless headphones and it continues Marshall's trend for focusing on fashion and fun rather than pristine sound quality and a great build.

When it comes to headphones, the general consensus is that you very much get what you pay for. But with AKG's K92, what you're getting is so much more. These headphones offer a level of sound quality that far outstrip their budget price tag. That being said, these are some of the largest cans you might ever find, and therefore might not be the best choice for anyone out there who has a petite noggin. Specs-wise, however, it's all good. The K92's professional 40mm drivers offer an extended 16 - 20,000Hz frequency response with a 113 dB SPL/V sensitivity level. It has a cable length of about 9 feet (3 meters) and weighs around 200 grams.

When the BackBeat Sense first launched a few years ago, it was way too expensive for the everyday audio listener. Sure, these headphones are good, but were they $200/£150 good? Probably not. Thankfully, it’s possible to find them for a much more reasonable price if you shop around. The design yields comfort and appeal. Its sound performance, battery life and features all deliver without a hitch. There are one or two problems here, but for a sweet set of headphones at this low of a price point we can't be harsh on 'em. These cans are worth every penny for someone looking to leap for a classy-looking set of wireless headphones.

There’s a lot about the AirPods that we like. They sound great, their battery life and charging speeds run laps around the competition, and it’s hard to overstate just how seamless the pairing process is. Unfortunately, they can be rather expensive if you don't get them on sale. Considering the holidays are right around the corner, we expect to see these awesome wireless in-ears on sale sooner rather than later. Don't miss them!

The Beats Solo 3 Wireless ace their wireless tech, with very solid Bluetooth, good range and class-leading battery life. There’s a huge difference here compared with often-flaky cheap Bluetooth sets. Their bass response is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, too – it’s not meant to be neutral or accurate, but by providing meaty thuds without major boominess, the Solo 3 Wireless do what a Beats headphone should.

]]>The best cheap Bluetooth speaker deals in December 2017http://www.techradar.com/news/best-cheap-bluetooth-speaker
http://www.techradar.com/news/best-cheap-bluetooth-speakerWant to take your music with you on the go? Check out these awesome Bluetooth speaker deals.Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:15:44 +0000techradar.comIf you're looking for the best Bluetooth speakers deals, you're in luck: There are some great deals running right now - the holidays are always a good time to find some of the best speakers of the year at a discount.

Now, it's not that Bluetooth speakers are particularly expensive - they're not - but if you're looking for a portable speaker that's going to last you for awhile, sounds great and has a long-lasting battery life, they can be a bit pricey.

But, wait, why would you want a Bluetooth speaker in the first place? Well, these awesomely convenient and extremely portable powerhouses help you crank up the tunes at parties, around the bonfire or even around the house.

Thanks to improvements in wireless technology Bluetooth speakers have fast become the de facto fast and convenient way of listening to music while in your home, and while that might sound like an expensive proposition these cheap Bluetooth speaker deals it doesn’t have to cost you the earth.

Use one and you'll immediately see why they’ve become so popular. Instead of the mess of cables and docks that you normally need to get music playing out of a set of speakers, with a Bluetooth speaker it’s as easy as pairing up your phone, opening your music app of choice, and getting your favorite songs playing.

Unlike our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers (which are ranked based on quality), these have been ranked in order of price from cheapest to most expensive. Pay more and you’ll get features like better battery life and more complete water-proofing, but rest assured that every speaker on this list is more than capable of delivering a great sound experience.

So read on for our top picks of cheap Bluetooth speakers.

Looking for a super cheap waterproof Bluetooth speaker? Look no further. The JBL Clip 2 may be petite, but it has powerful sound and a long-lasting battery. It's completely waterproof – which makes it a perfect companion for a pool or a day at the beach – and it can be hooked up to a second JBL Clip speaker for some sweet stereo sound. Cheap and convenient all in one package.

If you want a budget waterpprof Bluetooth speaker, then the Creative Muvo Mini is the one to buy. It takes all the features you could want in a Bluetooth speaker such as weather-proofing and a decent battery, and combines them into a surprisingly affordable package.

A good Bluetooth speaker is something we all deserve, but it's also something we can't all afford. Thankfully, Dell stuck this stellar option in the budget Bluetooth speaker category. The Dell AD211 won't win awards for design, but that's a compromise we can stomach considering this speaker's staggeringly low price point. Taking value into consideration, you'll have a hard time finding an affordable speaker with good battery life, NFC compatibility and a built-in microphone. But the AD211 has it all, and for a bargain. Get this if you're ballin' on a budget and you need the most feature-packed speaker for your money.

As far as deals go, there are few better than the ones you can find on last year's JBL Flip 3. This awesome-sounding Bluetooth speaker has great bass response, its mids are rich and highs are crisp. This speaker offers a 3,000mAh internal battery that's capable of about 10 hours of life and an internal microphone that allows you to pick up calls by pressing the phone button. On its back, there's a microUSB port for charging the Flip 3 and a 3.5mm input for wired listening.

Planning on taking your speaker beach-side? Be sure to pack a UE Roll 2, a speaker that's waterproof, compact and fits great in a bag. It boasts a 50-foot wireless range, exceptional clarity around the mids and highs and won't malfunction after a little splash. There are plenty of other great Bluetooth speaker deals out there but, if you want a speaker with a wild design, this level of sound performance and an unbeatable, 50-foot wireless range, Ultimate Ears's Roll 2 is the epitome of water-resilient audio equipment.

Another option from Ultimate Ears is the brand-new UE Wonderboom. Unlike the Roll 2, it's capable of 360-degree sound, which is perfect for parties where people are a bit more dispersed, and amps up the bass. All that said, the UE Wonderboom is one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers you can buy. It’s completely waterproof, offers true 360-degree sound, features a 100-foot range and can pair two devices simultaneously.

If you're looking to liven up your living room, one viable party route to go down is Sony's SRS-X11 Bluetooth speaker. This little cube packs 12 hours of battery life in a 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 inch (W x H x D) shell and outputs 10w of power. It has a decent frequency response of 20–20,000 Hz (with 44.1 kHz sampling) and only weighs around 7 ounces. Cheap, light and moderately powerful? Win.

Need something a bit bigger for your next party? Check out the Ultimate Ears Boom 2, the reigning champ of our Best Bluetooth Speaker guide. The UE Boom is ultra-powerful and, like the UE Roll and UE Wonderboom, is 100% splashproof, making it the perfect companion for any outdoor adventuring on your agenda. If you're deep in the search for your next – or first – Bluetooth speaker, you can stop looking now. You've found it.

Razer might be comparatively new to the Bluetooth speaker game, but the Leviathan Mini does a lot right. When we originally reviewed it we thought that the speaker was a little pricey for what it offered, but now that it's been on the market for a while its price has come down substantially, making it a much easier product to recommend.

Bose is a brand more commonly associated with high-end audio gear, but the company is also more than capable of putting out decent budget offerings, and nothing shows that off more than the SoundLink Color, which sounds great for the price.